The Best 25 French Recipes for Bastille Day. Bastille Day (France's National Day - le quatorze juillet/ fourth of July) is such a fun holiday to celebrate - wherever you are in the world. Especially if you are not in France, hosting a Bastille Day celebration is great excuse to do something unique and fun on a day where there are not many other events already planned. What better way to celebrate Bastille Day than with French food? I love having a Bastille Day celebration to look forward to, it is a chic and elegant way to celebrate the summer!
French National Day - La Fête Nationale
Whether you are planning a romantic Bastille Day themed dinner for two or an outdoor Bastille Day party, here are my favorite recipes for Bastille Day celebrations.
Warm weather (in the northern hemisphere) lends itself to dishes that are light, fresh and full of summer flavors. Many of the below recipes are inspired from the French Riviera though many will make you feel as if you are in a French bistro in the streets of Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower. All of them are a representation of authentic French Cuisine. French people love to celebrate Bastille Day.
Quick Easy French Baguettes (Baking Baguettes for Beginners)
Quick, easy French baguette recipe. Deliciously simple yet crusty and crackly, homemade French Baguettes. Follow this recipe for easy French Baguettes even first time bakers can make and with only a couple hours.
Kir Royale Cocktail
The Kir Royale Cocktail is chic and refreshing. My favorite cocktail, made with crème de cassis and champagne, as seen on Emily in Paris.
Easy French Crêpes Recipe
My Grandmother's Crêpes are as easy to make as 1-2-3. 1 Cup of flour, 2 cups of milk, 3 large eggs. Et Voilà!
Easy French Toast Recipe
This, no-fail, easy french toast recipe is perfect for a decadent weekend brunch but is easy enough to put together in under 20 minutes with very little skill.
I love this recipe because it is high in protein and does not use sugar. As well, the measurements do not need to be precise for the end result to be tasty. Kids tend to spill on the counter when mixing and that is ok here. It is nearly impossible to mess up this recipe!
French Tartines Recipe
A Tartine is an open face sandwich, very popular in France. Go to any bistro at breakfast or lunch and you will see Tartines offered on the menu. Tartines are not as popular in the United States yet (we love our sandwiches between two slices of bread!), but I love this lighter and sometimes more
Grilled Peach & Shrimp Salad
Do you want to learn to make a salad that looks, and tastes like it comes from a Michelin starred restaurant in the South of France? Let's do it! Here is a step by step guide to making La Salade Tropezienne - a fancy Shrimp, Peach and Goat Cheese salad with a Rosé Vinaigrette inspired by Saint-Tropez.
French Salade Niçoise Recipe
Here is an authentic, tasty French Salade Niçoise recipe that you will love! One of my all-time favorite salads that is full of protein (eggs, tuna and possibly sardines) and with lots of good veggies butter lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, artichokes fava beans, radishes and basil. It is simple to make yet impressive to serve and is perfect for picnics or long lunches in the sun.. Serve with a fresh baked baguette and a glass of Rosé for the perfect French Riviera lunch.
Simple Confit Bayaldi Recipe
Confit Bayaldi is a beautifully presented French Riviera slow cooked vegetarian dish using the same ingredients as a Ratatouille.
A perfect example of French Riviera cooking - Confit Bayaldi uses simple, fresh ingredients, beautifully displayed to create a dish that is memorable and full of flavor but is also surprisingly healthy.
The colors are beautiful and vibrant and the fancy rose shape of the vegetables looks almost too pretty to eat! When cooked just right Confit Bayaldi can be the star of a special brunch table or the dish that everyone asks you the recipe for at a dinner party.
Authentic Ratatouille Recipe
Ratatouille is a delicious & healthy side dish from Provence made of baked eggplant, zucchinis, peppers, tomatoes, garlic and onions, seasoned with fragrant Herbes de Provence. The vegetables are robust in flavor, each distinctly seasoned. Each velvety forkful melts in your mouth, offering the beauty of Provence in each bite.
Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée
I Love EVERYTHING about Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée. The rich, comforting broth. The ooey-gooey cheese pull. The dash of whiskey. A perfect meal to serve for socially distanced dinners outside in the winter.
Soupe au Pistou
La Soupe au Pistou is a hearty yet summery vegetarian bean soup packed with mixed vegetables, pasta and LOTS of basil. The perfect meal in a bowl , ideal meal prep to get you through the week.
Le Grand Aïoli, made simple
Le Grand Aïoli. This classic dish is everything I love about summer dining in the South of France. A sophisticated take on a dipping platter with summer vegetables, seafood and a delicious homemade garlicky mayonnaise. Each individual ingredient shines beautifully and the presentation is artful yet casual. Perfect for a luxurious picnic or a long lunch outdoors accompanied by chilled glasses of Provençal Rosé.
Seared White Wine Scallops and Leeks Recipe
Pan Seared Scallops and Leeks in White Wine make for a delicious French-inspired appetizer. The buttery taste of the scallops pairs beautifully with the slight tang of leeks. This dish is super simple to make and yet is impressive to serve.
Lemon Thyme French Roast Chicken (Poulet Rôti)
This Lemon and Thyme French Roast Chicken Recipe (Poulet Rôti au thym et citron) with Roasted Garlic is one of our family's favorite dishes. The meat is juicy and tender with the delicate perfume from the lemons, garlic and thyme. The skin is crispy and flavorful. Simply exquisite as well as super easy to make!
Classic Beef Bourguignon
This Beef Bourguignon, or "Boeuf Bourguignon" dish is one of the grand classics of French Cuisine, for good reason. Tender chunks of braised beef that melt in your mouth. A rich, winey sauce that envelops the beef and the supple vegetables. A dish you can't resist saying "yum" after just one bite - just like in one of my favorite movies, Julie & Julia.
Coq au Vin Blanc
Coq Au Vin Blanc is a French recipe for a succulent chicken stew made with white wine.
A classic French dish, each forkful melts in your mouth and is so fragrant and flavorful. I confess, I actually prefer Coq au Vin Blanc to the traditional Coq au Vin , made with red wine. The flavor is lighter and incredibly indulgent.
La Daube Provençale made simple
A Daube Provençale is the South of France version of the classic "Boeuf Bourguignon". Many of the ingredients and methods of cooking are the same, however it is the addition of orange zeste and Niçois olives that make this dish unforgettable. This is our family recipe, full of French cooking tips. Allons-y!
Coq au Vin made simple
An iconic French Dish. Chicken that is seared, then braised in a rich red wine sauce that infuses it with so much flavor, you will say, "mmmmm" with every bite. Pearl onions, bacon and mushrooms add a level of flavor complexity, you won't believe you made this dish yourself!
Mediterranean Branzino Filet Recipe with Vierge Sauce
Delicate Branzino with a bright vinaigrette of tomatoes, olives and basil give a Provençal twist to your dish. Super simple yet impressive! A delicious Mediterranean Diet dish.
Bone in Ribeye Steak Recipe
Tips for cooking a Bone-In Ribeye steak at home that tastes like it does in a fancy restaurant. This recipe is the best way to cook a steak like a Chef.
Merguez Sandwich
Merguez sandwich is the French Riviera equivalent of the American Hot Dog. You will find them at every BBQ and picnic from May to September. The spicy, juiciness of the Lamb Merguez sausage hot off the grill, the sweet smokiness of a freshly made Piperade sauce and the crunch of a toasted baguette. A perfect bite if you ask me! Truly an awesome sandwich.
Les Petits Farcis Niçois (or Petits Farcis à la Provençale)
Step by step instructions to make my favorite French Riviera dish - Les Petits Farcis Nicois. Rich and hearty with fresh summer vegetables - a showstopper!
How to make a French Cheese board
This post includes everything you need to make a perfect French Cheese board. With a focus on quality, not quantity, a French board is simple to make with a few tips! 3 well chosen cheeses, a few slices of apple and some dried fruits, a little bowl of honey and perhaps some fig jam et
The Best Chocolate Soufflé Recipe
The best, no fail recipe for a Chocolate Soufflé! Learn to make this impressive, decadent, lighter-than-air dessert at home with tips from Le Chef.
How to make Crème Brûlée like a French Chef
There is Crème Brûlée, and then there is Le Chef's Crème Brûlée. A rich, decadent and silky smooth cream, flecked with fragrant vanilla bean and a crisp, crackly top that shatters into sugar shards when you break into it. This crème brûlée is absolute perfection - and, with a few insider tips, is easier than you think to make a home. Are you ready to learn how to make Crème Brûlée like a French Chef?
Best Moelleux au Chocolat - Chocolate Lava Cake
Le Chef's Moelleux au chocolat recipe makes for a romantic dark chocolate cake that is rich on the outside and decadently gooey on the inside- positively oozing with dark chocolate. Moelleux au chocolat (translation: soft chocolate) is also known as a chocolate lava cake or as a mi-cuit au chocolat. The perfect dessert to make for the one you love.
Portions: 4
Degree of difficulty: ⅗ (simply for the equipment needed and for the bain marie technique)
Mousse au Chocolat (French Chocolate Mousse made simple)
French mousse au chocolat (Chocolate Mousse) will become your family's favorite dessert. A Rich dark chocolate flavor with a light, airy texture and a depth of flavor from the spices. This recipe takes less than a half hour to make (plus a few hours to chill) and can be made a day in advance. No one can resist an "mmmmm" when eating this Mousse!
Here are the recipes separated by meal time:
Brunch
No need to wait until the afternoon to celebrate Bastille Day!
Here are 2 variations of French Crêpes recipes that are so easy to make you will want to make them every weekend!
French Crêpes Made Simple - you will love this easy recipe!
L'Apéro (Welcome Cocktail):
L'Apéro is what a French host will always serve as guests arrive for an evening event. Cocktails or wine with little nibbles to whet the appetite and make guests feel immediately welcome. Really, you could choose to host L'Apéro on its own for Bastille Day - I have written more about the art of the Apéro in this blog post
Frequent Asked Questions about Bastille Day
"Bastille Day” is France’s national holiday. “La Bastille” refers to the storming of the Bastille, a turning point in the French Revolution that happened on July 14th 1789. Today, the French celebrate Bastille Day much like we celebrate the fourth of July in the US or July 1st in Canada - with wonderful friends, great food and beautiful wines! Not to forget the impressive Military Parade on the Champs Elysées!
In the South of France we always celebrated Bastille Day with a good meal between friends. Served outdoors in an informal style was always my favorite. An Apéro style is a fun way to welcome guests for a fun gathering
Dishes such as Salade Niçoise, Salade Tropezienne, Fresh baked Baguette, Petit Farçis Niçois, Le Grand Aïoli and Bayaldi Provençal are great to serve. Your guests will appreciate the authentic French flavors
To Drink:
Piscine Pêche (Sparkling wine with peaches and rosemary - yum!).
I also will serve a Martini blanc, an Aperol Spritz or a glass of Rosé.
To Eat:
Gougères (French Cheese Puffs) - Recipe by Bakes by Brown Sugar
I also like to serve a selection of nuts and finger foods such as cucumbers and dip and cherry tomatoes with L'Apéro. Perhaps a few slices of charcuterie as well but I save the cheese for after the meal!
Appetizers:
Here are some fresh, summer dishes to inspire you - whether you are serving an individually plated meal or putting big plates in the center of the table for everyone to share.
Confit Bayaldi , an elevated version of Ratatouille - a Provençal stew made of fresh vegetables.
Fig & Goat Cheese Salad with a Honey Vinaigrette
La Salade Mentonnaise - Fennel, Orange and Artichoke salad with roasted Pine Nuts
Roasted Plum, Goat Cheese & Lemon Thyme Salad
Prosciutto Salad with Melon and Burrata
La Salade Tropezienne - Shrimp, Peach and Goat Cheese Salad with a Rosé Vinaigrette
French Onion Soup Gratinée (not my favorite choice in a heatwave, but it is one of the most popular recipes on my blog...even in summer!)
La Soupe au Pistou - A Provençal Summer Soup
Main Dishes Perfect for Bastille Day
Merguez Sandwich - The French hot dog and one of the most popular Bastille Day foods. This recipe, with its fresh baguettes and smokey red pepper piperade sauce is perfect for a Bastille Day Party. Merguez sausage, made of lamb and spices, originates from North Africa and is one of the most famous BBQ foods in France - perfect for an outdoor feast.
Seared Scallops & Leeks in White Wine
Super Simple French Roast Chicken
Coq au Vin made simple - a French Bistro classic your friends will love. Coq au Vin Blanc is also a great alternative for summer - made with white wine instead of red wine.
French Cheese Board
How to make a expert selection of cheeses is all explained in this blog post.
French Dessert Recipes
If you are up to spending some time preparing your desserts, here are some of my absolute favorite classic French desserts that are always impressive to serve.
Mousse au Chocolat (Chocolate Mousse)
Profiteroles by Molly J. Wilk (I love how simple she makes French baking!)
Strawberry Macarons by Britney Breaks Bread
(the above can be made in advance so are great for an outdoor gathering when you won't be next to an oven)
Please let me know if you are making one of these best 25 French recipes for Bastille Day, my favorite French recipes. I love to hear from you!
Happy Bastille Day!
Bon Appétit,
Le Chef's Wife
ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (6 and 3) and I work full time in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
Look inside our Kitchen with this recent Washington Post Article. We were recently featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment here:
I share our home cooking on Instagram, pinterest and tiktok. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to receive my new recipes and have advance access to cooking classes. I look forward to cooking with you!
Sign Up for Le Chef's Wife Newsletter - receive weekly recipes to your inbox
Ann-Marie Michaels says
So excited to find your blog. My new fave! I am planning a "Babette's Feast" with my best girlfriends this month. I think I will use some of your recipes. Love the idea of whole garlic bulbs with the roast chicken, and the shrimp/peach salad looks to-die-for.
Anina Belle Giannini says
Bonjour Ann-Marie,
Thank you so much for letting me know! I love to hear it. I just made roast chicken yesterday and my husband ate the entire bulb before I could get to it. Note to self : put 2 garlic bulbs with the chicken!
Bonne journée,
Anina Belle
Suzanne says
All very useful and appetizing. Thank you lechefswife!
lechefswife says
Thank you for your comment! I am glad you like it 🙂
Shani says
Anina Belle, what a tremendous roundup to honor Bastille Day! I'm going straight for the French Onion Soup Gratinée and La Crème Brûlée. Amazing job!
lechefswife says
thank you so much for your comment, Shani! This French Onion soup is amazing - we use chicken stock and the onions melt in your mouth!
Britney Brown-Chamberlain says
I cannot wait to try some of these recipes to celebrate Bastille Day! What a great lineup! Thanks for the recommendations!
lechefswife says
thank you so much for your comment, Britney! And thank you for your amazing Macaron recipe! The perfect dessert for Bastille Day.